Expositions on the Book of Psalms 92

sant'Agostino d'Ippona (354–430 d.C.) · Enarrationes in Psalmos · PL 36, 67–1027

92.1 Psalm XCII PL 36, 1181

1. …We are not Christians, except on account of a future life: let no one hope for present blessings, let no one promise himself the happiness of the world, because he is a Christian: but let him use the happiness he hath, as he may, in what manner he may, when he may, as far as he may. When it is present, let him give thanks for the consolation of God: when it is wanting, let him give thanks to the Divine justice. Let him always be grateful, never ungrateful: let him be grateful to his Father, who soothes and caresses him: and grateful to his Father when He chasteneth him with the scourge, and teacheth him: for He ever loveth, whether He caress or threaten: and let him say what ye have heard in the Psalm: “It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord; and to sing praises unto Thy Name, Thou Most Highest” (ver. 1).

Psalmi hujus titulum, cum pronuntiaretur, audivimus; et quid sibi velit, de Scriptura Dei, hoc est ex libro Genesis, non est difficile cognoscere: in titulo enim tanquam admonemur in limine quid intus quaeramus. Inscriptus ergo est ita: «Laus cantici ipsi» «David, in diem ante sabbatum, quando fundata est terra.» Recordantes ergo per omnes dies quid fecerit Deus, quando creavit et ordinavit universa a primo die usque ad sextum diem (septimum enim sanctificavit, quia in illo requievit post omnia opera, quae fecit bona valde), et invenimus eum sexto die fecisse (qui dies hic commemoratur, quia dicit, «ante sabbatum») omnia animalia in terra: deinde ipso die fecit hominem ad imaginem et similitudinem suam. Non autem sine causa illi dies sic sunt ordinati, nisi quia et saecula sic cursura erant, antequam requiescamus in Deo. Tunc autem requiescimus, si facimus opera bona. Ad hoc exemplum scriptum est de Deo, «Requievit Deus septimo die,» cum fecisset omnia opera bona valde . Non enim fatigatus est, ut requiesceret, aut modo non operatur; cum aperte Dominus Christus dicat: «Pater meus usque nunc operatur» . Dicit illud enim Judaeis, qui carnaliter sentiebant de Deo, nec intelligebant quia Deus cum quiete operatur, et semper operatur, et semper quietus est. Ergo et nos, quos in se voluit Deus tunc figurare, post omnia opera bona habebimus requiem. Et quidem opera bona nostra, fratres, quae hic operamur in saeculo ante requiem, quasi cum labore sunt; et requies illa in spe est, nondum tenetur in re: et nisi esset in spe, deficeremus in labore; sed transeunt opera laboriosa et bona. Quid enim tam bonum, quam porrigere panem esurienti? et quod audiebamus modo, cum Evangelium legeretur, quid tam bonum, quam id quod admonebat generaliter, «Omnis qui habet duas tunicas, det non habenti; et qui habet escas, pascat esurientem» ? Nudum vestire, bonum opus est: numquid semper erit hoc opus bonum? Habet aliquantulum laborem, sed habet solatium in spe futurae quietis. Quantum autem laborem habet quod vestis nudum? Bonum opus non multum laborat: malum opus habet laborem. Qui enim vestit nudum, si habet unde faciat, non laborat: si non habet unde faciat, «Gloria in excelsis Deo, et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis» . Qui autem vult spoliare vestitum, quantum laboret, quis numerat? Et tamen et ista transitura sunt, cum venerimus ad illam requiem, ubi nemo esurit qui pascatur, nemo nudus est qui vestiatur. Ideo quia et ista transitura sunt opera bona, et sextus iste dies, quando perficiuntur opera bona valde, habet vesperam. In sabbato autem non invenimus esse vesperam, quia requies nostra non habebit finem: vespera enim pro fine ponitur. Sicut ergo sexto die fecit Deus hominem ad imaginem suam; sic invenimus sexto saeculo venisse Dominum Jesum Christum, ut reformaretur homo ad imaginem Dei. Primum enim tempus, tanquam primus dies, ab Adam usque ad Noe: secundum tempus, tanquam secundus dies, a Noe usque ad Abraham: tertium tempus, tanquam tertius dies, ab Abraham usque ad David: quartum tempus, tanquam quartus dies, a David usque ad transmigrationem Babyloniae: quintum tempus, tanquam quintus dies, a transmigratione Babyloniae usque ad praedicationem Joannis. Sextus dies jam a praedicatione Joannis agitur usque ad finem, et post finem sexti diei pervenimus ad requiem. Modo ergo sextus dies agitur. Si sextus dies agitur, videte quid habeat titulus: «In diem ante sabbatum, quando fundata est terra.» Jam audiamus ipsum Psalmum; ipsum interrogemus quomodo fundata est terra, ne forte tunc facta est terra: nec in Genesi sic legimus. Quando ergo fundata est terra? Quando, nisi cum fit quod lectum est modo in Apostolo: «Si tamen statis in fide,» ait, «stabiles et immobiles» ? Cum omnes qui credunt per universam terram immobiles sunt in fide, fundata est terra: tunc fit homo ad imaginem Dei. Quod significat sextus ille dies de Genesi. Sed quomodo illud fecit Deus? quomodo fundata est terra? Christus venit, ut fundaret terram. «Fundamentum enim nemo potest ponere praeter id quod positum est, quod est Christus Jesus» . De illo ergo cantat Psalmus:

92.2 PL 36, 1182

2. This Psalm is entitled, a Psalm to be sung on the Sabbath day. Lo, this day is the Sabbath, which the Jews at this period observe by a kind of bodily rest, languid and luxurious. They abstain from labours, and give themselves up to trifles; and though God ordained the Sabbath, they spend it in actions which God forbids. Our rest is from evil works, theirs from good; for it is better to plough than to dance. They abstain from good, but not from trifling, works. God proclaims to us a Sabbath. What sort of Sabbath? First consider, where it is. It is in the heart, within us; for many are idle with their limbs, while they are disturbed in conscience.…That very joy in the tranquillity of our hope, is our Sabbath. This is the subject of praise and of song in this Psalm, how a Christian man is in the Sabbath of his own heart, that is, in the quiet, tranquillity, and serenity of his conscience, undisturbed; hence he tells us here, whence men are wont to be disturbed, and he teaches thee to keep Sabbath in thine own heart.

[«vers. 1.] Dominus regnavit, decorem induit; induit; Dominus fortitudinem, et praecinctus est.» Videmus quia duas res induit, decorem et fortitudinem. Utquid autem? Ut fundaret terram. Sequitur enim: «Etenim confirmavit orbem terrae, qui non commovebitur.» Unde confirmavit? Quia decorem induit. Non confirmaret, si solum decorem indueret, non et fortitudinem. Quare ergo decorem? quare fortitudinem? Utrumque enim dixit: «Dominus regnavit, decorem induit; induit Dominus fortitudinem; et praecinctus est.» Nostis, fratres, quia Dominus noster cum venisset in carne, his quibus praedicabat Evangelium regni, aliis placebat, aliis displicebat. Nam divisae sunt adversus se linguae Judaeorum: «Alii dicebant, Quia bonus est; alii dicebant, Non, sed seducit turbas» . Alii ergo bene loquebantur; alii detrahebant, lacerabant, mordebant, conviciabantur. Ad eos ergo quibus placebat, «decorem induit:» ad eos quibus displicebat, «fortitudinem induit.» Imitare ergo et tu Dominum tuum, ut possis esse vestis ipsius: esto cum decore ad eos quibus placent bona opera tua; esto fortis adversus detractores. Audi apostolum Paulum imitantem Dominum suum, quomodo et ipse habuit decorem, habuit fortitudinem. «Christi bonus odor sumus,» inquit, «in omni loco, et in his qui salvi fiunt, et in his qui pereunt.» Quibus enim placet bonum, salvi fiunt; qui detrahunt bono, pereunt. Quod suum erat, ille odorem habebat bonum; imo bonus odor erat: sed vae miseris qui et bono odore moriuntur. Non enim ait, Illis bonus odor sumus, illis malus odor sumus; sed, «Christi bonus odor sumus,» ait, «in omni loco, et in his qui salvi fiunt, et in his qui pereunt.» Subjecit statim, «Aliis quidem sumus odor vitae in vitam, aliis odor mortis in mortem» . Quibus erat odor vitae in vitam, decorem induerat: quibus erat odor mortis in mortem, fortitudinem induerat. Si autem tunc gaudes, quando te laudant homines, et placent illis bona opera tua; cum autem vituperaverint, deficis in bonis operibus, et quasi fructum bonorum te perdidisse arbitraris, quia invenis reprehensores: non stetisti immobilis; non pertines ad «orbem terrarum, qui non commovebitur. Induit Dominus fortitudinem, et praecinctus est.» De ipso decore et fortitudine habet alium locum apostolus Paulus: «Per arma justitiae dextra et sinistra.» Vide ubi decorem, ubi fortitudinem: «Per gloriam, et ignobilitatem.» In gloria decorus, in ignobilitate fortis. Apud alios gloriosus praedicabatur; apud alios ignobilis contemnebatur. Decorem afferebat eis quibus placebat, fortitudinem adversus eos quibus displicebat. Et sic enumerat omnia usque in finem, ubi dicit: «Quasi nihil habentes, et omnia possidentes» . Cum omnia possidet, decorus est; cum nihil habet, fortis est. Non ergo mirum, si sequitur, «Etenim confirmavit orbem terrae, qui non commovebitur.» Quomodo enim non commovebitur orbis terrarum? Cum credunt in Christum omnes fideles, et parati sunt ad utrumque; gaudere cum laudantibus, fortes esse adversus vituperantes; non mollescere linguis laudantium, nec frangi linguis vituperantium.

92.3 PL 36, 1183

3. …Accuse thyself, and thou receivest indulgence. Besides, many do not accuse Satan but their fate. My fate led me, saith one when you ask him, why did you do it? why did you sin? he replies, by my evil fate. Lest he should say, I did it; he points to God as the source of his sin: with his tongue he blasphemes. He saith not this indeed openly as yet, but listen, and see that he saith this. You ask of him, what is fate: and he replies, evil stars. You ask, who made, who appointed the stars; he can only answer, God. It follows, then, that whether he doth so directly or indirectly, still he accuseth God, and when God punisheth sins, he maketh God the author of his own sins. It cannot be that God punishes what He hath wrought: He punisheth what thou doest, that He may set free what He hath wrought. But sometimes, setting aside everything else, they attack God directly: and when they sin, they say, God willed this; if God had not willed it, I should not have sinned. Does He warn thee for this, that not only He may not be listened to, to keep thee from sin, but even be accused because thou dost sin? What then doth this Psalm teach us? “It is a good thing to confess unto the Lord.” What is to confess unto the Lord? In both cases: both in thy sins, because thou hast done them; and in thy good works, confess unto the Lord, because He hath done them. Then shalt thou “sing unto the Name of God, the Most Highest:” seeking the glory of God, not thine own; His Name, not thine. For if thou seekest the Name of God, He also seeketh thy name; but if thou hast neglected the Name of God, He also doth blot out thine.…

Forte quaeramus et de hoc verbo, quare dixit, «praecinctus est.» Cinctio opera significat: tunc enim se quisque cingit, cum operaturus est. Sed quare non dixit, Cinctus est; sed, «praecinctus est?» Dicit enim in alio psalmo: «Accingere gladium tuum circa femur, potentissime; populi sub te cadent» . Nec ibi dixit, Cingere, neque, praecingere, sed, «accingere:» accingeris enim quando aliquid adjungis lateri tuo per cinctionem; ideo, «Accingere gladium tuum.» Gladius Domini unde debellavit orbem terrarum, occidendo nequitiam, Spiritus Dei est in veritate sermonis Dei. Quare circa femur accingere dicitur gladium? Aliud quidem ex alio de alio psalmo ad cinctionem diximus; sed tamen quia commemoratum est, non est praetermittendum. Quid est accinctio gladii circa femur? Per femur carnem significat. Non enim aliter debellaret Dominus orbem terrarum, nisi in carnem veniret gladius veritatis. Hic ergo quare «praecinctus est?» Qui se praecingit, ante se ponit aliquid quo praecingitur: unde dictum est, «Praecinctus est linteo, et lavit pedes discipulorum suorum.» Quia enim tunc humilis fuit, quando linteo praecinctus est, lavit pedes discipulorum suorum. Omnis autem fortitudo in humilitate; quia fragilis est omnis superbia: ideo cum de fortitudine diceret, addidit, «praecinctus est;» ut recolas Deum praecinctum humilem, quando pedes discipulorum lavit. Et exhorruit Petrus Dominum suum, magistrum suum (minus dixi magistrum suum, cum dixissem Dominum suum) curvantem se ad pedes suos, et lavantem sibi pedes, expavit, et dixit: «Domine, non lavabis mihi pedes.» Et ille: «Quod ego facio, tu nescis modo; scies autem postea.» Et ille: «Non lavabis mihi pedes in aeternum.» Et ille: «Si non lavero te, non habebis partem mecum.» Qui primo Petrus expaverat Dominum lavantem sibi pedes, plus expavit, «Non habebis partem mecum;» et credidit non sine causa hoc facere Dominum, nisi quia aliquod erat illud forte sacramentum, et ait: «Domine, non pedes tantum, sed et caput, et totum.» Et ille: «Qui lotus est semel, non habet necessitatem iterum lavandi, sed est mundus totus.» Non ergo ad sacramentum tanquam mundationis pertinebat, quod lavit eis pedes, sed ad exemplum humilitatis: hoc enim dixerat, «Quod enim ego facio, nescis; scies autem postea.» Videamus si scierunt postea, videamus si aperuit illis quod faciebat, ut videamus Dominum praecinctum fortitudine; quia in humilitate est tota fortitudo. Cum lavisset eis pedes, rursus discubuit, et ait illis: «Dicitis me Magistrum, et verum dicitis; sum enim: dicitis me Dominum, et verum dicitis; sum enim: si ergo ego Magister et Dominus vester lavi vobis pedes, quomodo oportet vobis invicem faciatis» ? Si ergo in humilitate est fortitudo, nolite timere superbos. Humiles tanquam petra sunt: petra deorsum videtur, sed solida est. Superbi quid? Quasi fumus: etsi alti sunt, evanescunt. Ergo ad humilitatem Domini referre debemus quod praecinctus est, secundum commemorationem Evangelii, quod praecinctus est, ut lavaret pedes discipulis suis.

92.4 PL 36, 1184

4. “To tell of Thy mercy early in the morning, and of Thy truth in the night season” (ver. 2). What is the meaning of this; that the mercy of God is to be told us in the morning, and in the night the truth of God? The morning is, when it is well with us; the night, the sadness of tribulation. What then did he say in brief? When thou art prosperous, rejoice in God, for it is His mercy. Now, perhaps thou wouldest say, If I rejoice in God, when I am prosperous, because it is His mercy; what am I to do when I am in sorrow, in tribulation? It is His mercy, when I am prosperous; is it then His cruelty, when I am in adversity? If I praise His mercy when it is well with me, am I then to exclaim against His cruelty when it is ill? No. But when it is well, praise His mercy: when ill, praise His truth: because He scourgeth sins, He is not unjust.…During the night Daniel confessed the truth of God: he said in his prayer, “We have sinned, and committed iniquity, and have done wickedly. O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto Thee: but unto us confusion of face.” He told of the truth of God during the night-season. What is it to tell of the truth of God in the night-season? Not to accuse God, because thou sufferest aught of evil: but to attribute it to thy sins, His correction: to tell of His loving-kindness early in the morning, and of His truth in the night-season. When thou doest this, thou dost always praise God, always confess to God, and sing unto His Name.

Est aliud quod in hoc verbo possimus intelligere. Diximus quia qui se praecingit, ante se ponit quod sibi adjungit, ut se cingat. Quia ergo illi qui detrahunt nobis, aliquando nobis absentibus faciunt, tanquam post dorsum; aliquando coram in faciem, sicut Domino faciebant pendenti in cruce, «Si filius Dei est, descendat de cruce» : non opus habes fortitudine quando tibi aliquis detrahit absenti, quia non audis, nec sentis; si autem in faciem tibi dicat, opus est ut fortis sis. Quid est, Fortis sis? Ut feras: ne forte ideo te putes fortem, cum audieris, quia percutis pugno victus convicio. Non est ista fortitudo, si conviciatus percutias, quoniam ab ira victus es: et valde stultum est, hominem victum fortem dicere, cum dicat Scriptura, «Melior est qui vincit iram, quam qui capit civitatem» . Meliorem dixit irae victorem, quam civitatis captivatorem. Habes ergo adversarium magnum in teipso. Cum audito convicio ira coeperit surgere, ut reddas malum pro malo, recordare verba Apostoli: «Non reddentes malum pro malo, neque maledictum pro maledicto» . His verbis recordatis frangis iram, tenes fortitudinem; et quia coram te ille tibi maledixit, non post dorsum tuum, praecinctus es illa.

92.5 PL 36, 1185

5. “Upon a psaltery of ten strings, with a song, and upon the harp” (ver. 3). Ye have not heard of the psaltery of ten strings for the first time: it signifies the ten commandments of the Law. But we must sing upon that psaltery, and not carry it only. For even the Jews have the Law: but they carry it: they sing not.…“And upon the harp.” This means, in word and deed; “with a song,” in word; “upon the harp,” in work. If thou speakest words alone, thou hast, as it were, the song only, and not the harp: if thou workest, and speakest not, thou hast the harp only. On this account both speak well and do well, if thou wouldest have the song together with the harp.

Jam caetera audiamus: brevis est Psalmus, «Etenim confirmavit orbem terrae, qui non commovebitur.» Videtis, fratres, multi credunt in Christum, magna turba est: et tamen in hac magna turba, audistis modo cum Evangelium legeretur, quia veniet Dominus ferens palam in manu sua, et mundabit arcam suam; frumentum recondet in horreo, paleas comburet igni inexstinguibili . Sunt ergo per totam terram et boni et mali: boni grana sunt, mali palea. In aream intrat tribula: paleam concidit, triticum purgat. Quis est ergo orbis terrarum «qui non commovebitur?» Quod utique non diceret, nisi esset et orbis terrarum qui commovebitur. Est orbis terrarum qui non commovebitur, est orbis terrarum qui commovebitur. Quia et boni qui stabiles sunt in fide, orbis terrarum est; ne quis diceret, In parte sunt: et mali, qui non stant in fide cum senserint aliquam tribulationem, per orbem terrarum sunt. Est ergo orbis terrarum mobilis, est orbis terrarum immobilis: de quo dicit Apostolus. Vide orbem terrarum mobilem. Rogo te, de quibus dicebat Apostolus, «Ex quibus est Hymenaeus et Philetus, qui circa veritatem aberraverunt, dicentes resurrectionem jam factam esse, et fidem quorumdam subvertunt?» Numquid isti ad orbem terrarum pertinebant, qui non commovebitur? sed palea erant: «Et fidem,» inquit, «quorumdam subvertunt.» Non dixit, Omnium; et si omnium diceret, omnes intelligere deberemus pertinentes ad civitatem Babyloniam, quae habet damnari cum diabolo: tamen «fidem quorumdam» dixit. Et quasi diceretur ei, Et quis eis potest resistere? subjecit statim: «Firmum autem fundamentum Dei stat.» Ecce habes orbem terrarum qui non commovebitur. «Habens signaculum hoc.» Quod signaculum habet firmum fundamentum? «Novit Dominus qui sunt ejus.» Iste est orbis terrarum qui non commovebitur: «Novit Dominus qui sunt ejus.» Et quod signaculum habet? «Et recedat ab injustitia omnis qui nominat nomen Domini» . Modo ab iniquitate recedat: ab iniquis enim non potest recedere, quia mixta est palea tritico usque dum ventiletur. Quid dicimus, fratres? Et in ipsa area, mira res est de tritico: recedit a palea, cum exspoliatur; et non recedit ab area, cum trituratur. Quando autem omnino separabitur? Cum venerit ventilator. Ergo modo area in orbe terrarum est: necesse est ut, si proficis, inter iniquos vivas. Ab iniquis recedere non potes; ab iniquitate recede. «Recedat ab iniquitate omnis qui nominat nomen Domini;» et erit in orbe terrarum qui non commovebitur.

92.6 PL 36, 1185

6. “For Thou, Lord, hast made me glad through Thy works; and I will rejoice in giving praise for the operations of Thy hands” (ver. 4). Ye see what he saith. Thou hast made me living well, Thou hast formed me: if by chance I do aught of good, I will rejoice in the work of Thy hands: as the Apostle saith, “For we are His workmanship, created unto good works.” For unless He formed thee to good works, thou wouldest not know any works but evil.…Because thou canst not have truth from thy own self, it remains that thou drink it thence, whence it floweth: as if thou hast gone back from the light, thou art in darkness: as a stone glows not with its own heat, but either from the sun or fire, and if thou withdraw it from the heat, it cools: there it appears, that the heat was not its own; for it became heated either by the sun or by fire: thus thou also, if thou withdraw from God, wilt become cold; if thou approach God, thou wilt warm: as the Apostle saith “fervent in spirit.” Also what saith he of the light? If thou approach Him, thou wilt be in light; therefore saith the Psalm, “Look upon Him, and be lightened; and your faces shall not be ashamed.” Because therefore thou canst do no good, unless lightened by the light of God, and warmed by the spirit of God; when thou shalt see thyself working well, confess unto God, and say what the Apostle saith; say unto thyself, that thou be not puffed up, “For what hast thou that thou didst not receive?”…

[«vers. 2.] Parata est sedes tua, Deus, ex illo». «Ex» «illo,» quid est? Ex tunc. Tanquam si diceret, Quae est sedes Dei? ubi sedet Deus? In sanctis suis. Vis esse sedes Dei? Para locum in corde tuo ubi sedeat. Quae est sedes Dei, nisi ubi habitat Deus? Ubi habitat Deus, nisi in templo suo? Quod est templum ejus? Parietibus instruitur? Absit. Mundus iste est forte templum ipsius, quia valde magnus est, et digna res quae capiat Deum? Nec capit eum a quo factus est. Et ubi capitur? In anima quieta, in anima justa: ipsa illum portat. Magna res, fratres: certe magnus est Deus; fortibus gravis, infirmis levis est. Quos dixi fortes? Superbos, qui quasi habent praesumptionem virium suarum. Nam infirmitas illa in humilitate major fortitudo est. Audi Apostolum dicentem, «Quando infirmor, tunc potens sum» . Hoc est quod commendavi, quia Dominus praecinctus est fortitudine, quando humilitatem docebat. Ergo ipsa est sedes Dei, quae aperte alio loco in propheta dicitur, «Super quem requiescet Spiritus meus?» id est, ubi requiescet Spiritus Dei, nisi in sede Dei? Audi quomodo describat ipsam sedem. Forte auditurus eras marmoratam domum, ampla spatia atriorum, in magna altitudine et fulgore tectorum. Audi quid sibi paret Deus: «Super quem requiescet Spiritus meus? Super humilem et quietum, et trementem verba mea» . Ecce humilis es et quietus, et in te habitat Deus. Altus est Deus, non in te habitat, si altus esse volueris. Certe altus vis esse, ut habitet in te: humilis esto et tremens verba ejus, et ibi habitat. Non timet trementem domum, quia ipse illam firmat. «Parata est sedes tua, Deus, ex illo. Ex illo,» id est, ex tunc; id est, quasi quoddam tempus significat. Ex tunc, ex quo? Forte ex die «ante sabbatum. Ex illo,» quia titulus Psalmi praescribit nobis ex quo. Sexto enim die, id est, tempore hujus mundi sexto, venit Dominus in carne. Ex illo ergo, plane ex illo secundum hominem, ex illo ex utero. Quid enim dicit alius psalmus? «In splendore sanctorum ex utero. In splendore sanctorum,» id est, ut illuminentur sancti, ut videant Deum in carne; et purgetur cor, unde videatur in divinitate. «In splendore sanctorum ex utero.» Sed quid ibi sequitur? Ne forte ex utero inde incipere putares esse Christum: «Ante luciferum genui te» . Cum dixisset, «In splendore sanctorum ex utero,» subjecit statim, ne putares Christum a tempore esse coepisse ex quo natus est, sicut coepit Adam, sicut Abraham, sicut David, «Ante luciferum genui te:» ante omne quod illuminatur. Per luciferum enim, aut stellas omnes significat, et per stellas tempora, quia fecit Deus stellas in signa temporum , ut ante tempora invenias natum esse Christum: et utique qui natus est ante tempora, non potest videri natus ex tempore; quia et tempora creatura Dei sunt. Et utique si omnia per ipsum facta sunt et tempora per ipsum facta sunt. Aut certe ante omnem spiritum qui illuminatur, de Sapientia dixit, «Ante luciferum genui te.» Intendat Charitas vestra. Quomodo ergo cum dixisset, «Ex utero,» veluti praecavens fidei nostrae, ne inde putaremus coepisse Christum ex quo ex utero virginis natus est; subjecit statim, «Ante luciferum genui te:» sic et hic cum dixisset, «Ex illo,» id est, ex quodam tempore, ex die ante sabbatum, ex illa sexta aetate mundi, quando venit Dominus Christus, et in carne natus est, quia dignatus est, homo factus propter nos, Deus non solum ante Abraham, sed ante coelum et terram, qui dixit, «Ante Abraham ego sum» : non solum ante Abraham, sed ante Adam; non solum ante Adam, sed ante omnes Angelos, ante coelum et terram, quia omnia per ipsum facta sunt: subjecit, ne tu intendens diem nativitatis Domini ex quo natus est, putares ex illo esse coepisse, «Parata est sedes tua, Deus.» Sed quis Deus? «A saeculo tu es:» ab aeterno dixit ἀπὸ αἰῶνος; sic habet graecus: αἰὼν aliquando saeculum ponitur, aliquando aeternum ponitur. Ergo, o tu qui ex illo videris natus, ex aeterno es. Non autem nativitas humana cogitetur, sed cogitetur aeternitas divina. Ergo coepit ex quo natus est, crevit: audistis Evangelium. Elegit discipulos, implevit illos, coeperunt praedicare discipuli. Forte hoc est quod consequenter dicit.

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7. That wretched man who doeth good, and suffereth evils, seeth him, becometh disturbed, and saith, O God, the wicked, I imagine, please Thee, and Thou hatest the good, and lovest those who work iniquity.…The Sabbath being now lost in the inner man, and the tranquillity of his heart being shut out, and good thoughts repelled, he now beginneth to imitate him whom he seeth flourishing amid his evil deeds; and turneth himself also to evil works. But God is long-suffering, because He is eternal, and he knoweth the day of His own judgment, where He weigheth all things.

[«vers. 3-4.] Elevaverunt flumina voces suas.» Quae sunt ista flumina quae elevaverunt voces suas? Non audivimus: neque quando natus est Dominus, audivimus locuta flumina, neque quando baptizatus est, neque quando passus est; non audivimus flumina locuta. Legite Evangelium, non invenitis quia locuta sunt flumina. Parum est quia locuta sunt, «elevaverunt voces suas:» non solum locuta sunt, sed fortiter, magne, excelse. Quae sunt ista flumina quae locuta sunt? Diximus quod in Evangelio non legimus; tamen ibi quaeramus. Nam si ibi non invenimus, ubi inveniemus? Ego vobis fingere potero: et subito ero non certus dispensator, sed ineptus fabulator. In Evangelio quaeramus, simul quaeramus quae sunt flumina quae elevaverunt voces suas. «Stabat Jesus, et clamabat,» dictum est in Evangelio. Quid clamabat? Ecce jam ipsum caput fluminum clamat; ipse fons vitae unde sunt flumina cursura, levavit prior vocem suam. Et quid stans Jesus clamabat? «Qui credit in me, sicut Scriptura dicit, flumina aquae vivae de ventre ejus fluent.» Evangelista sequitur statim: «Hoc autem dicebat de Spiritu, quem accepturi erant hi qui in eum erant credituri. Spiritus autem nondum erat datus, quia Jesus nondum erat glorificatus . Cum autem glorificatus esset Jesus in resurrectione et ascensione in coelos, sicut nostis, fratres; impletis ibi decem diebus propter quoddam sacramentum, misit Spiritum suum sanctum, implevit discipulos . Ipse Spiritus magnum flumen, unde impleta sunt multa flumina. De ipso flumine dicit psalmus alio loco: «Fluminis impetus laetificat civitatem Dei» . Ergo facta sunt flumina currentia de ventre discipulorum, cum acceperunt Spiritum sanctum: ipsa flumina accepto Spiritu sancto. Unde flumina elevaverunt voces suas? quare elevaverunt? Quia primo timuerunt. Petrus nondum fuit flumen, quando interrogatione ancillae ter Christum negavit: «Nescio hominem» . Hic timens mentitur; nondum elevat vocem, nondum est flumen. Ubi autem impleti sunt Spiritu sancto, accersierunt eos Judaei, et praeceperunt eis ne omnino loquerentur, neque docerent in nomine Jesu. Petrus autem et Joannes dixerunt ad eos: «Si justum est coram Deo, ut vobis obediamus magis quam Deo, judicate: non enim possumus quae vidimus et audivimus non loqui. Elevaverunt» ergo «flumina vocem suam, a vocibus aquarum multarum.» Ad ipsam elevationem vocis pertinet quod ibi scriptum est, «Stetit autem Petrus cum undecim, et elevata voce dixit ad eos, Viri Judaei» ; et caetera quibus annuntiat Jesum sine timore cum magna fiducia. «Elevaverunt» enim «flumina vocem suam, a vocibus aquarum multarum.» Nam et cum dimissi essent Apostoli de concilio Judaeorum, venerunt ad suos, et indicaverunt quanta eis sacerdotes et seniores dixerunt: at illi audientes levaverunt vocem unanimes omnes ad Dominum, et dixerunt, «Domine, tu es qui fecisti coelum et terram, et mare, et omnia quae in eis sunt» ; et caetera quae dicere potuerunt flumina elevantia vocem suam. «Mirabiles suspensurae maris.» Cum enim illi elevassent voces suas discipuli, crediderunt multi, et acceperunt multi Spiritum sanctum, et coeperunt multa flumina clamare de paucis. Ideo sequitur, «A vocibus aquarum multarum mirabiles suspensurae maris:» id est, hujus saeculi. Cum coepisset Christus tantis vocibus praedicari, coepit irasci mare, coeperunt crebrescere persecutiones. Cum elevassent ergo «flumina vocem suam, a vocibus aquarum multarum mirabiles suspensurae maris.» Suspensurae, exaltationes sunt; quia quando irascitur mare, suspenduntur fluctus. Suspendantur fluctus quantum volunt, fremat mare quantum vult; «mirabiles» quidem «suspensurae maris,» mirabiles minae, mirabiles persecutiones, sed vide quid sequitur: «Mirabilis in excelsis Dominus.» Compescat se ergo mare, et aliquando tranquilletur, detur pax Christianis. Turbabatur mare, fluctuabat navicula. Navicula Ecclesia est, mare saeculum est. Venit Dominus, ambulavit super mare, et pressit fluctus . Quomodo ambulavit Dominus super mare? Super capita istorum fluctuum magnorum spumantium. Potestates, et reges crediderunt, subjugati sunt Christo. Ergo non terreamur, quia «mirabiles suspensurae maris: Mirabilis in excelsis Dominus.»

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8. Teaching us this, what saith he? “O Lord, how glorious are Thy works: Thy thoughts are made very deep” (ver. 5). Verily, my brethren, there is no sea so deep as these thoughts of God, who maketh the wicked flourish, and the good suffer: nothing so profound, nothing so deep: therein every unbelieving soul is wrecked, in that depth, in that profundity. Dost thou wish to cross this depth? Remove not from the wood of Christ’s Cross: thou shalt not sink: hold thyself fast to Christ. What do I mean by this, hold fast to Christ? It was for this reason that He chose to suffer on earth Himself. Ye have heard, while the prophet was being read, how He “did not turn away His back from the smiters, and His face from the spittings of men,” how “He turned not His cheek from their hands;” wherefore chose He to suffer all these things, but that He might console the suffering? He could have raised His flesh at the last day: but then thou wouldest not have had thy ground of hope, since thou hadst not seen Him. He deferred not His resurrection, that thou mightest not still be in doubt. Suffer then tribulation in the world with the same end as that which thou hast observed in Christ: and let not those who do evil, and flourish in this life, move thee. “Thy thoughts are very deep.” Where is the thought of God? Rejoice not as the fish who is exulting in his bait: the fisherman hath not drawn his hook: the fish hath as yet the hook in his jaws. And what seemeth to thee long, is short; all these things pass over quickly. What is the long life of man to the eternity of God? Dost thou wish to be of long-suffering? Consider the eternity of God. For thou regardest thy few days, and in thy few days thou dost wish all things to be fulfilled. What things? The condemnation of all the wicked: and the crowning of all the good: dost thou wish these things to be fulfilled in thy days? God fulfilleth them in His own time. Why dost thou suffer weariness? He is eternal: He waiteth: He is of long-suffering: but thou sayest, I am not of long-suffering, because I am mortal. But thou hast it in thy power to become so: join thy heart to the eternity of God, and with Him thou shalt be eternal.…

[«vers. 5.] Testimonia tua credita facta sunt nimis.» Magis quam mirabiles erant suspensurae maris, et mirabilis in excelsis Dominus. «Testimonia tua credita facta sunt nimis. Testimonia tua,» quia dixerat illud ante: «Haec dico vobis, ut in me pacem habeatis, in mundo autem pressuram.» Ergo quia mundus pressuram vobis facturus est, dico vobis. Coeperunt pati, et confirmarunt in se quod illis praedixerat Dominus, et magis fortes sunt facti. Cum enim videbant impleri in se passiones, sperabant compleri in se et coronas: et ideo «mirabiles suspensurae maris; mirabilis in excelsis Dominus. Ut in me,» inquit, «pacem habeatis, in mundo autem pressuram.» Ergo quid facimus? Saevit mare, extolluntur fluctus, et rabidi fremunt; pressuras patimur: nonne forte deficimus? Absit. «Mirabilis in excelsis Dominus.» Adeo et ibi cum diceret, «ut in me pacem habeatis, in mundo autem pressuram;» quasi dicerent, Putas non premet nos mundus, et exstinguet nos? statim subjecit, «Sed gaudete, quia ego vici saeculum» . Si ergo ait, «ego vici saeculum,» adhaerete illi qui vicit saeculum, qui vicit mare. Gaudete ad eum, quia mirabilis est in excelsis Dominus, et «testimonia tua credita facta sunt nimis.» Et quid factum est de his omnibus? «Domum tuam decet sanctificatio, Domine.» Domum tuam, totam domum tuam: non hic, aut hic, aut ibi; sed domum tuam totam, per totum orbem terrarum? Quare per totum orbem terrarum Quia correxit orbem terrae, qui non commovebitur . Domus Domini fortis erit; per totum orbem terrarum erit: multi cadent, sed domus illa stat; multi turbabuntur, sed domus illa non movebitur. «Domum tuam decet sanctificatio, Domine.» Numquid parvo tempore? Absit. «In longitudinem dierum.»

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9. For this reason, after saying, “Thy thoughts are very deep,” he at once subjoins: “An unwise man doth not well consider this, and a fool doth not understand it” (ver. 6). What are the things which an unwise man doth not well consider, and which a fool doth not understand? “When the ungodly are green as the grass.” What is, “as the grass”? They flourish when it is winter, but they will wither in the summer. Thou observest the flower of the grass? What more quickly passeth by? What is brighter? What is greener? Let not its verdure delight thee, but fear its withering. Thou hast heard of the ungodly being green as the grass: hear also of the righteous: “For lo.” In the mean while, consider the ungodly; they flourish as the grass; but who are they who understand it not? The foolish and unwise. “When the ungodly are green as the grass, and all men look upon the workers of iniquity” (ver. 7). All who in their heart think not aright of God, look upon the ungodly when they are as green as grass, that is, when they flourish for a time. Why do they look upon them? “That they may be destroyed for ever.” For they regard their momentary bloom, they imitate them, and wishing to flourish with them for a time, perish for evermore: this is, “That they may be destroyed for ever.”

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10. “But Thou, Lord, art the Most Highest for evermore” (ver. 8). Waiting above in Thy eternity until the season of the wicked be past, and that of the just come. “For lo.” Listen, brethren. Already he who speaketh (for he speaketh in our person, in the person of Christ’s body, for Christ speaketh in His own body, that is, in His Church), hath joined himself unto the eternity of God: as I a little before was saying unto you, God is long-suffering and patient, and alloweth all those evil deeds which He seeth to be done by wicked men. Wherefore? because He is eternal, and seeth what He keepeth for them. Dost thou also wish to be long-suffering and patient? Join thyself to the eternity of God: together with Him wait for those things which are beneath thee: for when thy heart shall have cleaved unto the Most Highest, all mortal things will be beneath thee: say then what follows, “For lo, thine enemies shall perish.” Those who now flourish, shall afterwards perish. Who are the enemies of God? Brethren, perhaps ye think those only enemies of God who blaspheme? They indeed are so, and those wicked men who neither in tongue nor in thought cease to injure God. And what do they do to the eternal, most high God? If thou strike with thy fist upon a pillar, thou art hurt: and thinkest thou that where thou strikest God with thy blasphemy, thou art not thyself broken? for thou doest nothing to God. But the enemies of God are openly blasphemers, and daily they are found hidden. Beware of such enmities of God. For the Scripture revealeth some such secret enemies of God: that because thou knowest them not in thy heart, thou mayest know in God’s Scriptures, and beware of being found with them. James saith openly in his Epistle, “Know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God?” Thou hast heard. Dost thou wish not to be an enemy of God? Be not a friend of this world: for if thou art a friend of this world, thou wilt be an enemy of God. For as a wife cannot be an adulteress, unless she be an enemy to her own husband: so a soul which is an adulteress through its love of worldly things, cannot but be an enemy to God. It feareth, but loveth not: it feareth punishment but is not delighted with righteousness. All lovers of the world, therefore, are enemies of God, all the curious after trifles, all consulters of diviners astrologers, and evil spirits. Let them enter, or not enter, Churches: they are enemies of God. They may flourish for a season like grass, but they will perish, when He beginneth to visit them, and pronounce His sentence upon all flesh. Join thyself to the Scripture of God, and say with this Psalm, “For lo, thine enemies shall perish” (ver. 9). Be not found there, where they shall perish. “And all the workers of iniquity shall be destroyed.”

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11. …“But mine horn shall be exalted like the horn of an unicorn” (ver. 10). Why did He say, “like the horn of an unicorn”? Sometimes an unicorn signifies pride, sometimes it means the lifting up of unity; because unity is lifted up, all heresies shall perish with the enemies of God. And “mine horn shall be exalted like an unicorn.” When will it be so? “And mine old age shall be in the fatness of mercy.” Why did he say, “my old age”? He means, my last days; as our old age is the last season in our lives, so the whole of what the body of Christ at present suffereth in labours, in cares, in watchings, in hunger, in thirst, in stumbling-blocks, in wickednesses, in tribulations, is its youth: its old age, that is, its last days, will be in joy. And beware, beloved, that ye think not death meant also, in that he hath spoken of old age: for man groweth old in the flesh for this reason, that he may die. The old age of the Church will be white with good works, but it shall not decay through death. What the head of the old man is, that our works will be. Ye see how the head groweth old, and whiteneth, as fast as old age approacheth. Thou sometimes dost seek in the head of one who groweth old duly in his own course a black hair, yet thou findest it not: thus when our life shall have been such, that the blackness of sins may be sought, and none found, that old age is youthful, is green, and ever will be green. Ye have heard of the grass of sinners, hear ye of the old age of the righteous: “My old age shall be in the fathers of mercy.”

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12. “And Mine eye hath beheld on mine enemies” (ver. 11). Whom doth he call his enemies? All the workers of iniquity. Do not observe whether thy friend be wicked: let an occasion come, and then thou provest him. Thou beginnest to go contrary to his iniquity, and then thou shalt see that when he was flattering thee, he was thy enemy; but thou hadst not yet knocked, not to raise in his heart what was not there, but that what was there might break out. “Mine eye also hath looked upon mine enemies: and mine ear shall hear his desire of the wicked that rise up against me.” When? In my old age. What is, in old age? In the last times. And what shall our ear hear? Standing on the right hand, we shall hear what shall be said to them that are on the left.

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13. The grass withereth, the flower of sinners dieth away: what of the righteous? “The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree” (ver. 12). The ungodly are green as grass; “The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree.” By the palm tree he signifieth height. Possibly he had also this meaning in the palm, that in its extremities it is beautiful: so that thou mayest trace its beginning from the earth, its end in its topmost branches, wherein its whole beauty dwelleth. The rough root appeareth in the earth, the beautiful foliage toward the sky. Thy beauty too, then, shall be in the end. Thy root is fixed fast: but our root is upward. For our root is Christ, who hath ascended into heaven. Humbled, he shall be exalted; “he shall spread abroad like a cedar in Libanus.” See what trees he spoke of: the righteous shall flourish like a palm-tree: and shall spread abroad like a cedar in Libanus. When the sun hath gone forth, doth the palm-tree wither? Doth the cedar die? But when the sun hath been glowing for some hours, the grass drieth up. The judgment, therefore, shall come, that sinners may wither, and the faithful flourish.

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14. “Such as are planted in the house of the Lord, shall flourish in the courts of the house of our God” (ver. 12). “They shall be yet more increased in fruitful old age, and shall be quiet, that they may show it forth” (ver. 13). Such is the Sabbath, which but a little while ago I commended unto you, whence the Psalm hath its title. “They shall be quiet, that they may show it forth.” Wherefore are they quiet that show it forth? The grass of sinners moveth them not: the cedar and palm-tree not even in tempests are bent. They are therefore quiet, that they may show it forth: and with reason, since at present they must show it forth even unto men who mock at it. O wretched men, who are lovers of the world! Those who are planted in the house of the Lord, show it to you: those who praise the Lord with song and lute, in word and deed, show it forth to you, and tell you. Be not seduced by the prosperity of the wicked, admire not the flower of grass: admire not those who are happy only for a season, but miserable unto eternity.…If ye wish to flourish like a palm-tree, and to spread abroad like a cedar in Libanus, and not to wither like grass when the sun is hot; as those who appear to flourish when the sun is absent. If then ye wish not to be as grass, but as the palm-tree and the cedar, what will ye show forth? “How true the Lord my strength is: and that there is no unrighteousness in Him.” How is it there is no unrighteousness? A man committeth so great crimes; he is well, he hath sons, a plentiful house, he is full of pride, is exalted by his honours, is revenged on his enemies, and doeth every evil deed; another man, innocent, attending to his own affairs, not robbing another’s goods, doing nothing against any one, suffereth in chains, in prison, tosseth and sigheth in poverty. How is it that there is no unrighteousness in Him? Be quiet, and thou shalt know: for thou art disturbed, and in thy chamber thou dost darken thy light. The eternal God doth wish to shine upon thee: do not then make thee cloudy weather from thy own disturbed mind. Be quiet within thyself, and see what I say unto thee. Because God is eternal, because for the present He spareth the bad, bringing them to repentance: He scourgeth the good, instructing them in the way unto the kingdom of heaven: “There is no unrighteousness in Him:” fear not.…What, if He leaveth this man unpunished now, because he is doomed to hear, “Depart into everlasting fire.” But when? when thou shalt be placed at the right hand, then shall it be said to those placed on the left, “Depart into the everlasting fire, which is prepared for the devil and his angels.” Let not therefore those things move thee: Be quiet, keep Sabbath, and show “how true the Lord my strength is: and that there is no unrighteousness in Him.”

Philip Schaff (ed.), Buffalo/New York: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1886-1889. Public domain: English translation first published 1885-1900 (Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series). Latin: Migne, Patrologia Latina (1844-1855), public domain; transcription from Corpus Corporum (University of Zurich).

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